Shelley Joanne Raley

January 25, 1978 — April 29, 2018

Shelley Joanne Raley, 40, of Naples, FL died peacefully of esophageal cancer on April 29, 2018, at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, FL surrounded by her Mom, Dad, sisters and brother.

Born January 25, 1978, in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of Joanne C. Raley and James M. Raley, Jr of Naples, FL.

A resident of Collier County since 1992, she graduated from Saint John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples, FL and later received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary and Secondary Education from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, before working as a Middle School Teacher for Saint Ann Catholic School. At Saint Ann’s, the late Sister George Francis Riseling convinced her she would be an excellent Religion teacher. She eventually took a one-year sabbatical from teaching to obtain her Masters Degree in Religious Education from Loyola University of Chicago, IL. She then began teaching at Saint John Neumann High School. She later earned her Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame, ACE Leadership Program.

At Saint John Neumann Catholic High School, she served as the Campus Minister and Head of the Theology Department. She was the Head of Peer Ministry, creator and moderator of The Y.A.C.H.T. Club (“Youth and Christ Helping Together”) which is an instrumental component of the Campus Ministry Program. She invited all students to the fullness of Christ’s love with “cruises” to perform service to others within the community. Present at many student events, she also served as an Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach and Senior Advisor. She was proudly known as Chaperone Shelley.

She had a strong love of her faith, family and friends. She nurtured her faith through her students and her “Go Irish” attitude. The congregation of the Christian Brothers and the Salesian Sisters of Saint John Bosco played an important part in her life formation. The Salesian Leadership Retreats for her students were important to her and she enjoyed taking her students to each city to explore.

She enjoyed her annual road trips to visit with family and friends. Each year, she would find ways to make memories for the special people in her life especially her nephews, niece and godchildren.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her grandmother, Harriet Molony Condon, of Mount Pleasant, SC; her three siblings, Tracy R. Harrison, her husband, Paul, and their two sons, Paul Jr. and Michael, of Chicago, IL; Richard T. Raley, his wife, Emily, and their two sons Thomas and John Michael, of Houston, TX; and Jami M Raley, her significant other, George Aniki, and their daughter, Mary Lee, of Thomaston, CT.

Shelley has requested that anyone who wants to share in the “Shellebration of Life,” wear bright and colorful clothing. Family will receive friends on Monday, May 7, 2018, from 11:00 am to 11:45 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Folly Beach, SC. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 pm. Her body will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, James Island, SC.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint John Neumann Catholic High School for Scholarships, 3000 53rd St SW Naples, FL 34116.

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